Catholic Churches of Old New Mexico

The oldest statue of the Virgin Mary in North America looks down from the Church at Laguna Pueblo. The simple intensity of wood and paint, illuminated by the desert light, creates a unique atmosphere of holiness and mystery. In this film, adobe churches such as the Santuario de Chimayo-the "Lourdes of North America"-are contrasted with the Romanesque inspired Cathedral of Saint Francis in Santa Fe, whose spiral staircase was built by a mysterious stranger whom legend says, was Saint Joseph. These churches of old New Mexico reveal the heritage of two very different cultures-Catholic settlers from Spain and Mexico, and the Pueblo Indians-who often clashed but shared one deep belief: that the realm of the spirit is a potent force in everyday life.